Perhaps he just saves his best for last.

He did this week.

Just imagine. He had the tournament won until 18 when he drove into the bunker, then his approach came up short and in front of the bunker. Suddenly, he goes from winning to having to make bogey just to make the playoff. Then, he finds himself facing the best swing on the PGA TOUR (South African Ernie Els), the third-leading money winner who also happened to be a Cinderella story from Louisiana (David Toms) and El Niño (Sergio Garcia), the gregarious, fiery Spaniard who is a blend of the best of countrymen José Maria Olazábal and Seve Ballesteros.

Then he up and knocks it to 6 feet to put an exclamation point on a day filled with them.

What didn't happen Sunday?

David Duval, the man who seemed destined to win this thing, couldn't make a putt. Kenny Perry, the last man in the field, had a chance to win -- and pay off the mortgage on his golf course in Franklin, Ky. -- until he bogeyed the 15th. Scott Verplank, your second- and third-round leader, hit it everywhere but straight, but still had a chance to win until a bogey at 17.

Talk about your wild afternoons.

"It was exciting," Weir said. "Everyone was having fun there with the playoff. Everyone was screaming. It was a blast."

The whole day was a blast. Woods, who always seems to be the biggest draw, was suddenly just one of the guys. And an improbable storyline.

He already had the money title, PGA Player of the Year and the Vardon Trophy sewn up, but he would have needed a 64 to make the playoff and a 63 to win. But that wasn't happening.

Neither was Duval, who made two crucial mistakes early -- at the third and the 12th.

But there was enough suspense without them.

Just standing on the range watching the players hit balls and wonder was a story in itself. Toms had fun with Garcia's family. Els came over for a visit too. Weir joined in. They watched Verplank finish on the jumbotron at the edge of the range and when he didn't birdie, they headed straight for the playoff.

Storybook endings? They were everywhere.

Toms could have capped an incredible season that saw him beat Phil Mickelson to win the PGA Championship in August and win twice more. Garcia could have won his third tournament of the season and inched a little higher in the world rankings.

And then there was Els. The man who finished second in three majors a year ago, was down to his last event to keep his at-least-one-win-a-year streak alive and kicking at eight. And when he stuck it at the 18th hole in regulation to birdie and make the playoff, you had to think the force was with the Big Easy. But it wasn't.

He played it safe, let his 3-wood get away from him and wound up in the woods with Garcia. Garcia got a drop. He didn't. But Els, nonetheless, shot one up and over a 30-foot tree and gave himself a chance -- from 40 feet.

Toms, who had split the fairway, was looking at a putt just inside that, while Garcia was at the back of the green. Garcia putted first and almost made it. Then Els. Then Toms. Then Weir made his and turned a good season into a great one.

The crowd went crazy each time. It was so hypnotic, Duval even sat in the locker room watching it.

There were roars and groans, and Garcia even fell down on the green. Great theater. Great golf. Great ending to a season of almosts for Weir.

And a perfect ending to the wild, wacky and eclectic 2001 season.

"I know if I play well tomorrow, I'm going to have a chance," said Verplank. "I know that's one of the things Tiger does. He knows when he tees it up, if he plays well, he's going to be right there and he probably thinks he's going to win."

So what are his chances? If he blocks it all OK, he might. But honestly, you have to look to Duval who's playing so well he can just shrug off holes like the 13th on Friday. And that playoff hole last week at the Buick Challenge that cost him his second win of the year.

"So many things went wrong on that one hole (13) that it was kind of like that lie I got in the playoff last week," he said. "It was just too much to worry about. So I didn't think about it."

The better Duval plays, the more aggressive he gets. And right now, he's throwing it at the pins and it's working. For him and everyone else.

How low will the winner go? Four years ago, Duval won here with a closing 68. This time, it'll take a 65 or better.